By divine power, God has granted us everything we need to live a godly life. We obtain all this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself through His marvelous glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1:3
Cold, rainy, and extremely windy days call for indoor activities. Sunday afternoon was such a day, making a stroll through the Home Show at the local Convention Center perfect. However, I soon realized I didn’t need most of what was displayed for a new home. What caught my eye was the number of chiropractic practices present. I found it an odd venue for them, but I suppose they thought some DIYers might need their services after completing a demanding project. I won’t advocate for or against chiropractic care, but one booth intrigued me. Their entire display stood out from all the others, and the conditions they claimed to alleviate weren’t your typical chiropractic issues, like digestive disorders and depression.
I learned they had a non-conventional approach, focusing exclusively on two vertebrae in the neck. Essentially, they believe these two vertebrae are key to the health and well-being of the entire body. The premise is that if these two vertebrae at the base of the brain are misaligned, the nerve impulses from the brain are impeded as they travel through the body, leading to sickness and pain. When the vertebrae are aligned, the nervous system functions properly, restoring the body’s function and healing signals. I won’t judge their philosophy or treatment techniques, but I agree that things in our bodies or lives become unfavorable when they are out of alignment.
I have a friend dealing with an excruciating neck issue. The scans reveal that she has a small 3mm protrusion, and in her words, “to think that a slight misalignment could wreak havoc like this is unreal.” That’s a physical illustration of being misaligned, but what about the spiritual consequences of not aligning with God and His ways? That can be just as damaging and painful in our lives. When humanity does not choose Jesus as their Savior, the eternal pain they face will be indescribable. The scriptures provide us a glimpse, but I doubt our finite minds can even begin to comprehend the pain and suffering of an eternity separated from God. That’s one spiritual consequence of not aligning with God, but as Believers, our lives should showcase examples of misalignment and restoration—a process known as sanctification.
As Believers, the process of sanctification begins at salvation. “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor 1:30). We were set apart for God’s use (sanctified), and the transformative process guided by the Holy Spirit, commenced. Transforming our sinful nature into Christ-like behavior is a lifelong, progressive journey that won’t be completed until we reach glory. In my personal experience, sanctification is often painful. When we align ourselves away from God’s will for our lives or stray from His truth, chaos will follow in some areas. But just like a chiropractor guides the vertebrae back into alignment, the Holy Spirit does the same if we listen and obey.
The picture is not of a person I know. It is a generic picture used to show the vertebra in the neck.